Wm. Chappel (Popular Music of the Olden Time, II, p. 795) contended that "Polly put the kettle on" was popularized in England in 1794, before the tune appeared as "Jenny's Bawbie" in 'Scots Musical Musical Museum, #496', 1797. "Jenny' Bawbie" without music is in Herd's 'Scots Songs', II, 204, 1776. John Glen, 'Early Scottish Melodies', 1900, tried to refute Chappell without any real evidence. Neither were aware of the following copy of the tune:
X:1 T:Jenny's Babee S:Aird's 'Airs', IV, #72 (1794) Q:1/4=60 M:C| K:D f/|a/b/a/g/ (f/d/d/f/)|B/4B/4B/ (e/d/) c/(A/A/)f/|\ a/f/a/g/ f/(d/d/)f/|B/4B/4B/ (c/A/)d3/2::g/|\ f/d/g/e/ f/(d/d/)f/|B/4B/4B/ (e/B/) c/(A/A/)g/|\ f/d/g/e/ f/(d/d/)f/|B/4B/4B/ (c/A/)d3/2:|]
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